Container



y 6 1940. R. E. REARDN 2 207,757

CONTAINER Filed Oct. 7, 1936 Snventor Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT- OFFICE CONTAINER Robert Edwin Reardon, Camden, N. J.

Application October 7,

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in containers and method of filling same, and particularly to sheet metal containers designed to be filled and hermetically sealed by mechanical means and opened manually. The object of my invention is to provide a mechanically fillable and sealable container of the ordinary flat-ended, closed cylinder or box type which may be filled and closed by the existing machinery used for that purpose, yet opened readily and easily by hand without tools by the consumer. I provide a fiatended, stackable can that has an outlet sealed by a crown cap or other pressure-applied closure without any distortion of the can by sealing pressure in application of the closure, thereby giving to a flat topped can the opening facility of a can which has been dome topped to withstand said sealing pressure, yet retaining the handling and packing advantages of the flat-ended container.

I attain the object of my invention by special formation of one of theend plates used in the construction of a container, which plate may be incorporated in the container body by soldering, creasing, or other usual means, and the method of handling the container during the filling of same.

The preferred embodimentof my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l'is a vertical section of a container shown as inverted for filling and having a crown cap sealed outlet and pry tag decapper assembled in structural integrity in its head end.

Figure 2 isa plan of an ordinary plate sealing end for the upward end or bottom of the container shown in Figure 1. 1

Figure 3 is a plan of the outletted end plate of the container shown in Figure I, showing a crown cap sealed thereon and the pry tag decapper assembled therewith.

Figure 4 is a plan of a modification showing a container top having an outlet sealed by a friction plug inserted through the head loop of a wire decapper, the head of said loop being covered by rubber compound .to form a sealing gasket.

Figure 5 is a verticalsection of the container top shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a plan of a modification of a container top showing an outlet having a vertical marginal flange projected upward and sealed by a friction cap with a lateral marginal flange and a sealing disk in its head, a decapper being assembled to the container top beneath said marginal flange of the cap.

Figure 7 is a vertical section of the modification shown in theFigure 6.

1936, Serial No. 104,534

Figure 8 is a plan of the looped wire decapper with gasket head shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 9 is a vertical section of the looped wire decapper with gasket head shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8.

In the drawing similar numerals refer to similar parts.

My improved container is preferably made of the usual tin or other coated metal plate used in the manufacture of containers for commercial canning purposes, and the outlet seals and decappers used therewith are of any suitable standard commercial material. My preferred form of special end formation is shown. in Figures 1 and 3. The end plate I consists simply of a sheet metal disk formed with a marginal wall 2, say .of inverted U shape in cross section, of sufi'icient upward projection to extend above the seal closed outlet 3 and its assembled decapper so that the latter may set within a depression in the disk or plate, slightly below or approximately flush with the rim of said marginal wall 2. Thus no projection extends above the flat rim of wall 2 to prevent stacking of containers or cause any departure from the normal handling or packing of same. In the end plate I, preferably adjacent to the wall 2, for greater ease and convenience in the use of the decapping device and facility in discharge of container contents, I form the outlet flange 5 adapted to receive a crown cap, its mouth projecting upward within the plate depression formed by wall 2. Upon the face of plate I is then placed a pry tag decapper 4 consisting of a strip of sheet metal suitably formed to give it rigidity and strength, the head end 6 of said decapper setting against and conforming suitably to the outer side of the outlet mouth 5, preferably embracing it sufficiently to maintain itself in position prior to sealing of the crown cap. The rearward end or handle I of said decapper is arched for easy finger engagement and has an acute bend 8 forward of said handle, at its juncture with the decapper fore section 5, at which weakened point the decapper shank will bend farther when the handle 1 is lifted, until a stop projection or nose It), thrust forward from the handle fore part, comes to rest on the decapper fore section or base 9, thus bringing the decapper into position for rigid action on the skirt of crown cap II. This construction of the decapper allows its handle I to lie normally below the level of the marginal wall 2 and be raised readily by finger engagement until lifted to easy gripping elevation for cap removal. The initial engagement of the fingers with said decapper handle I is facilitated by an ovate depression l2 formed in the face of said end plate I beneath said decapper handle.

In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 an outlet I3 is formed in an end plate M by a simple aperture in the face of said container end plate M which has a downwardly projected flange adapted to lie within the container body. Surrounding said outlet l3, on the face of plate [4, is the looped head of a bent wire decapping lever, which could be formed of sheet metal if desirable, the shank it of which lies across the head of plate I l and an ovate recess therein which permits initial finger engagement of said shank. The looped head l5 of said lever decapper is encased in a gasket ring l8 of rubber or similar compound, which might be formed upon the head l5 by dipping it in such compound when liquefied, or molding same upon said head. A thimble-like plug IQ of sheet metal with a marginal flange laterally extended from its rim, its thrust through said gasket covered looped head If: of the lever decapper into the outlet aperture [3 and forced down in same, the marginal flange 20 of plug l9 bearing down upon the gasket [8 and the decapper head within same and the face of plate It surrounding said outlet aperture l3 and effectually sealing same. The shank [6 of the decapper lever, adjacent its gasket covered head, is weakened by a transverse V-shaped cut 2[ which enables ready finger engagement of said shank, assisted by the ovate depression I! in the face of plate Id beneath said shank, and permits the shank to bend upward easily from the face of plate [4 until said V-cut closes and the lever becomes rigid at a convenient elevation for action upon the marginal flange 20 of plug l9 to unseal the outlet l3.

Figures 8 and 9 show separately, in plan and section respectively, the bent wire lever decapper with gasket covered head that is shown in container end plate assembly in the modification illustrated in the Figures 4 and 5.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 in plan and section respectively, the end plate outlet 22 is a simple aperture with an upwardly extended marginal flange 23. This form of outlet is closed by a friction cap 24 with a cork or other liner 25 in its head and a lateral marginal flange 26 about its mouth. A bent wire lever decapper formed as in Figures 4 and 5 but without gasket encasement of its head 27 or V-cut in shank 28, which latter is arched for finger engagement, encircles the outlet marginal flange 23 and extends its shank across the end plate face, arching over ovate depression 29 in said plate face. The friction cap 24 being forced down over outlet flange 23, against the cap head line 25, contacts with cap marginal flange 26 the head 21 of the lever decapper and presses latter against the end plate face, assembling the decapper in place thereon.

Thus broadly, my invention consists of a container of the flat ended can type which has an end plate component having in structural integrity prior to filling of said container an outlet sealed by a crown cap, or a frictionally or otherwise secured cap or plug, adapted to be-removed by a manually operable decapping means therefor that is assembled in and to said end plate by and with said crown cap or other sealing means, before the filling and body sealing of said container. As a flat ended container would distort under the local pressure required to seal the outlet I have provided in said end plate, I make possible the assemblage of said outletted end, sealing closure and decapping means, by the method of placing said end plate, either separately or as assembled to the container side wall 30, as in Figure 1, upon an anvil support, so that it will withstand the die or other pressure necessary to seal the crown cap or other closure upon the plate outlet, and incidentally assemble the decapper' the decapping device is placed in position thereon,

the closure placed in position to engage said outlet, and the requisite sealing pressure applied. In canning use the preferable method is to have the outletted end plate assembled to the container wall and function as the container bottom during the filling and sealing process, the container thus constituted passing inverted through the filling machinery and having the usual plain end closure plate as to sealed upon its upward end, without diversion from normal canning operation.

The operation of my improved container by the consumer is very obviously characterized-by ease and simplicity. The container, as shown in Figure 1, having been assembled with a sealed outlet and opening device incorported in it, is filled in inverted position and the bottom plate 30 as in Figure 2', sea-led upon it by the canning machine in its usual routine operation, the container is turned right side up. To open it the handle part of the decapping device shown, which crosses the ovate depression in the container head to facilitate manual engagement of the decapper, is gripped between thumb and finger of the consumer and lifted, thus prying, or lifting, off the crown cap or whatever closure may be used in modifications, and opening the can.

I claim: I I

1. In a container for liquids or powder or the like a crown finished outlet aperture therein sealed by a crown cap and. having one end of a strip of sheet metal clamped between the skirt of said'crown cap and said outlet finish, formation of said strip of sheet metal to rigidify it in part, a fore part and a handle part in said strip of sheet metal, aweaker part in said strip between said handle and the fore part, and a projection of said handle adapted'toabut said fore part when said handle is elevated.

2. A metal container body, a,closure therefor sealed to one portion of the body, said closure including a countersunk plate, said plate having an opening including a neck 'portion,-said neck portion having a closure sealed thereto with a closure removing device in clamped relation between the neck portion and the closure, said closure removing device having a manually engageable shank, the closure assembly being so located as not to extend above the adjacent wall of the container body, and another opening in said container body for filling purpose.

3. A metal container including an opening, a closure therefor having a countersunk area sealed to one portion of the container, said area having an opening therein and a closure sealed thereto with a closure removing device in clamped relation between the closure and the material surrounding said opening, said closure removing device having a manually engageable shank, the closure assembly being so located as not ,to extend above the plane of the container body in which the countersunk area is formed. and another opening in said container for filling purpose, and a cover for same.

4. A metal container having a countersunk area in same, said area. having an opening therein and a closure sealed thereon with a closure removing device in clamped relation between the closure and the material surrounding said opening, said closure removing device having a manually engageable part, the closure assembly being located so as not to extend above the plane of the container body in which the countersunk area is formed, and another opening in said container for filling purpose and a closure for said opening,

5. A container, an opening in said container defined by a crown finished neck, and a crown cap sealed thereon with one end of a lever strip of sheet metal clamped between the skirt of said crown cap and said neck, said lever strip of sheet metal being formed to have a rigid fore part and a rigid handle part with an integral weaker part joining same, and a projection on one rigid part adapted to abut the other rigid part when said handle art is elevated.

6. A container, an opening in said container and a closure sealed thereon with one end of a lever strip of metal clamped between the closure and the material surrounding said opening, said lever strip of metal being formed to have a rigid fore part and a rigid shank part with a weaker part joining same, and a projection on one rigid part adapted to abut the other rigid part when said shank part is elevated.

ROBERT EDWIN REARDON. 

